Justin Kingsley Hall was among the chefs at Vegas Unstripped Saturday night in the Arts District. (Daniel Clough)

Marc Marrone and the team from Graffiti Bao at Vegas Unstripped. (Hew Burney)

More than 600 people attended Vegas Unstripped 2019. (Hew Burney)

Escargot croquettes from Partage were among the dishes served at Vegas Unstripped.(Hew Burney)

“It felt like a family. It felt like a community down there. Everybody was walking around hugging each other.”

That was Gina Marinelli, chef/partner of Summerlin’s red-hot new Italian restaurant La Strega, talking about Vegas Unstripped, Saturday night’s independent, off-Strip answer to the celebrity star power of Vegas Uncork’d.

Held under the stars in the Arts District, Unstripped was an undeniable statement about the often unsung culinary talent and creativity in our valley’s communities. More than that, however, it was a celebration of the way that group is working together to promote each other’s businesses, confident that the rising tide will, in fact, lift all of their boats. And on Saturday night, that tide seemed more like a flood of support from locals and visitors alike.

More than 600 foodies turned out to enjoy new creations and menu favorites from 18 local restaurants. They also enjoyed beverages from neighborhood bars, breweries, coffeehouses and other establishments, and live entertainment by local performers throughout the evening.

“I think it’s incredible that the event nearly doubled in size in one year,” organizer Eric Gladstone said of the turnout. “To do an event that’s trying to express an idea and convey a mission is very challenging. You don’t know if people are going to get it or not. And overwhelmingly, people get it.”

That mission, he says, is simple. “Supporting these independent chefs, and being willing to go along with them with new ideas and new dishes.”

Yvonne Schellerue, in town from San Francisco to visit family, definitely got it.

“It’s a revival here,” she said of the local talent on display. “And I think it’s super cool.”

The chefs, for their part, pulled out all the stops, creating plates that went well beyond standard festival fare. The team from Eatt and Partage, for example created three dishes: escargot croquettes, ostrich tenderloin with seared foie gras and orange, and chilled strawberry soup with cotton candy and biscuit. Sparrow + Wolf’s Brian Howard served a Sichuan-style potato pave with smoked trout roe and crema, scallops with marinated eggplant and ramp pesto, and Indian basmati rice pudding with candied almonds, cardamom and blueberry.

Recent Las Vegas transplant Diana Brier spent much of her night melting cheese with a blow torch at the Cured & Whey booth. She said she was excited to be a part of the event.

“I love the off-Strip scene in Vegas. The community is so tight-knit. Everybody loves everybody. And it’s a really interesting mesh of people. It’s a really beautiful experience.”

In addition to promoting local restaurants, Vegas Unstripped also raised some money to help neighbors in need. After covering chef expenses, Gladstone predicts they’ll be able to donate several thousand dollars from ticket sales to the Las Vegas homeless outreach program Caridad for its efforts to get homeless veterans involved with a new urban farming project.

Electric Daisy Carnival attendees began to vacate the Las Vegas Motor Speedway starting before 5 a.m., the majority heading south on Interstate 15.

What it's like to skip the lines and fly by helicopter to EDC

What it's like to skip the lines and fly by helicopter to EDC. (Janna Karel Las Vegas Review-Journal)

DJ Steve Aoki visits Las Vegas comic book store

DJ Steve Aoki visits Torpedo Comics in Las Vegas Friday, May 17, 2019, for a signing for his new comic book series "Neon Future." (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Las Vegas Smith & Wollensky opens at The Venetian

After 18 years, the Smith & Wollensky location on Las Vegas’ south Strip closed in 2017, to be re-born two years later with a rib-cutting — instead of a ribbon-cutting — in The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian. (Heidi Knapp Rinella/Review-Journal)

Colin Cantwell, Creator Of Iconic Star Wars Ships Visits Vegas

Colin Cantwell, who created and designed such "Star Wars" ships as the X-Wing fighter, and Death Star, met fans at Rogue Toys in Las Vegas today. (Mat Luschek / Review-Journal)

Dozens of chefs representing some of the Strip’s top restaurants gathered Thursday at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to launch the 2019 edition of Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appetit. (Al Mancini/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Bunky the Clown at the clown convention

Bob "Bunky the Clown" Gretton talks about his life as a clown and the Clown Convention which was in Las Vegas at Texas Station this week. (Mat Luschek / Review-Journal)

Frying soft-shell crab at Lola’s in Las Vegas

At Lola’s: A Louisiana Kitchen in Las Vegas, soft-shell crab is breaded and fried and served either as an appetizer, po’boy or platter. Heidi Knapp Rinella/Review-Journal

There are plenty of events going on May the 4th this year around Las Vegas. Celebrate Star Wars and Comic Book Day all at once. The Rogue Toys, the 501st, Rebel Legion and Millennium Fandom Bar are all hosting fun events to help celebrate your geek-dom. (Mat Luschek / Review-Journal)

Las Vegas Water Sports Introduces New Attraction At Lake Las Vegas

Las Vegas Water Sports will debut its new aqua park attraction at Lake Las Vegas Days this weekend. (Mat Luschek / Review-Journal)

The M, Park MGM and NoMad are just a few great pools in Las Vegas. (Mat Luschek/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jose Andres explains Iberico pork

(Al Mancini/Las Vega Review-Journal)

Inside Life is Beautiful

Craig Asher Nyman explains how Life is Beautiful festival is booked and talks about this year's line-up. (Jason Bracelin/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Tattoo'd America Pops Up In Vegas

Tattoo'd America, a new pop-up attraction on the Linq Promenade, had their grand opening Friday. The attraction is dedicate to the culture of tattoos. (Mat Luschek / Review-Journal)

Jose Andres gets key to the Strip

Chef Jose Andres was presented with a Key to the Las Vegas Strip and a proclamation declaring April 26 Jose Andres Day in Clark County by County Commissioner Tick Segerblom on Friday. The ceremony took place at his restaurant Bazaar Meat in the SLS Las Vegas. (Al Mancini/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender runs Thursday, April 18th through Sunday, April 21st with a huge car show on Saturday featuring The Reverend Horton Heat, The Delta Bombers and The Coasters. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Brownie sundae at VegeNation in Las Vegas is completely vegan

Donald Lemperle, chef/owner of VegeNation in Las Vegas and nearby Henderson, NV, makes his sundae with ice cream made with coconut and almond milks, a brownie made with coconut flour and oil and organic sugar and cacao, and fresh fruit. (Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review-Journal)